Research and Reports

From March 25-29, 2019 in Geneva, the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons systems met at the United Nations (UN). The following written …

The 2018 Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) came to an anti-climactic end shortly before midnight on Friday, 24 November. The three days of deliberations …

Over recent years, there has been growing debate about the ethical, humanitarian, legal and security implications of autonomous weapon systems (AWS). The basic idea is that once activated, such weapon …

From April 9-13, 2018 in Geneva, the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons systems is meeting at the United Nations (UN). After meeting in …

Since 2014, high contracting parties to the CCW have expressed interest and concern about the meaningful human control of weapons systems. There is an extensive scientific and engineering literature on …

A working definition of “lethal autonomous weapons systems,” LAWS, suitable for negotiation and treaty language, may be drawn from the way that the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel landmines defines those …

Briefing Note for the Convention on Conventional Weapons Group of Governmental Experts meeting on lethal autonomous weapons systems: United Nations, Geneva, April 2018. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots is a …

Scientists around the world are speaking out against the dangers of developing lethal autonomous weapons. The following open letters showcase their concern: AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS: AN OPEN LETTER FROM AI & …

The Mapping the Development of Autonomy in Weapon Systems report presents the key findings and recommendations from a one-year mapping study on the development of autonomy in weapon systems. The report aims …

“In ‘Keeping control’, PAX provides an overview of the positions of European states on lethal autonomous weapon systems, also called killer robots. PAX analyses where states take similar positions and …

“The artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics communities face an important ethical decision: whether to support or oppose the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). “The UN has held three …

This article presents an initial discussion of the political and legal challenges associated with weaponised technologies in three interconnected areas that may impinge upon the ability to protect civilian populations …

Fully autonomous weapons would act on the basis of an “artificial intelligence”. Artificial intelligence is basically created by arithmetic calculations and programming of the robot. It lacks every feature of …

Whether the international community adopts the policy principle of meaningful human control or appropriate human judgment, the logical policy and legal conclusions will be the same. That is, if states …

“Broadly, we recommend that technical organizations accept that meaningful human control of weapons systems is beneficial to society, that audit trails guaranteeing accountability ensure such control, that those creating these …

Stigmatized as “killer robots” by opponents, autonomous weapons systems are widely regarded as harbingers of a paradigm shift in warfare. As described in a 2012 Pentagon document,3 “[Once] activated, [they] can …

Once the stuff of science fiction, recent progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, and machine learning means that these rapidly advancing technologies are finally coming into widespread use within everyday life. …

Discussions among government experts have indicated broad agreement that “meaningful”, “appropriate” or “effective” human control over weapon systems and the use of force must be retained, but there has been …

At the request of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)), the Defense Science Board (DSB) conducted a study on the applicability of autonomy to Department …

The UK’s engagement to date in multilateral discussions on the implications of increased autonomy in weapons systems, facilitated by robotics and AI, is not adequate to the broad societal implications …

This paper is aimed at helping defense professionals think clearly and objectively about possible risks associated with autonomous weapons. Autonomous weapons generally do not exist, and their military costs and …

The present debate over the creation and potential deployment of lethal autonomous weapons, or ‘killer robots’, is garnering more and more attention. Much of the argument revolves around whether such …

There is no internationally agreed definition of autonomous weapon systems. For the purposes of the meeting, ‘autonomous weapon systems’ were defined as weapons that can independently select and attack targets, …

Fully autonomous weapons have the potential to contravene the right to life, which the Human Rights Committee describes as “the supreme right.”[2] According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political …

Killer robots are fully autonomous weapon systems that can select and engage targets without meaningful human intervention. Although killer robots do not exist yet, the rapid advances in military technology …

With an increasing global market for unmanned technology, distinctions between civilian and military applications are easily blurred. Some new robotic systems can be sold separately from the guns that attach …

This article considers the recent literature concerned with establishing an international prohibition on autonomous weapon systems. It seeks to address concerns expressed by some scholars that such a ban might …

A treaty that prohibits autonomous fire decision but allows remotely controlled and “semiautonomous” weapons presents a more complex set of challenges. If a “semi-autonomous weapon system” may have capabilities to …

Lethal autonomous robotics (LARs) are weapon systems that, once activated, can select and engage targets without further human intervention. They raise far-reaching concerns about the protection of life during war …

The Task Force has concluded that, while currently fielded unmanned systems are making positive contributions across DoD operations, autonomy technology is being underutilized as a result of material obstacles within …

The USAF UAS Flight Plan describes a family of unmanned aircraft consisting of small man-portable vehicles, including micro and nano-sized vehicles, medium “fighter sized” vehicles, large “tanker sized” vehicles, and …